Today we are presenting you Claire Stibbe! Claire M. T. Stibbe has written two historical fiction novels, Chasing Pharaohs and The Fowler's Snare, both set in ancient Egypt during the 18th Dynasty. Her genres include Historical Fiction, Action and Adventure, Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense. Right now she is working on second book in the series Night Eye which will be published early 2016. She has also written short stories for Breakwater Harbor Books, a publisher of anthologies. The collection won Best Anthology of 2014 in the Independent Book Awards hosted by eFestival of Words. We bring you the story behind Claire's stories!
Tell us something about yourself:
Hi Tanja, thank you so much for interviewing me. I’m originally from Berkshire, England. My father was a housemaster at Bradfield College for many years before becoming Head Master of the King Edward School in Norwich. I think it was his courage to survive a war, his stories and his love of English literature that inspired me to write.
I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1995. They call New Mexico ‘the land of enchantment’ and for those of us who have never found our way home, ‘the land of entrapment.’ My husband is American, a national champion in RC model aircraft, and my son is half Navajo, a model and an entrepreneur. I’m very proud of them.
What kind of books do you write?
My first two books Chasing Pharaohs and The Fowler’s Snare are novels of ancient Egypt and published in 2014.
Chasing Pharaohs is set in 1493 BC and Pharaoh Kheper-Re rules the Egyptian city of Thebes. His reign is far from secure. Tau, a shadow hunter, has an old score to settle and seeks to destroy the ancient bloodline of the Two Lands. Commander Shenq, a young northerner with a knack for swords, is primed to protect one of the desert fortresses from the southern invaders.
When the old Commander of Thebes is forcibly retired and sent to lead the Medjai in the hills, Shenq is ordered back to Thebes to take his place. Confined in the palace to deal with the rantings of a neurotic Pharaoh, he is charged to protect his only son and heir.
The Fowler’s Snare is the second in the series, but can also be read as a stand-alone book. Hearing a report that King Ibada’s sons have gone missing, Commander Shenq rides out to meet a group of Alodians camping on the Pharaoh’s land. In order to find out who they are, the Pharaoh invites them to race against seven of his best men in a chariot race where the winner will be awarded the title Supreme Commander of Thebes.
The race is not ordinary race and where the desert terrain is not the only obstacle in the western desert. Treachery and sorcery are once again in season as the commanders of two rival kingdoms go head-to-head. Having taken a slight hiatus from Historical Fiction, I am enjoying the freedom of writing thrillers set in a modern era. The 9th Hour is the first in the Detective Temeke series where the central character is a man of Ethiopian and British descent.
It gives just the right mix of character to spice up the plot and for readers to enjoy the cultural differences, especially here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With a background in Behavioral Research (BRIU), Temeke is a detective well versed in violent crimes against children. This first book takes place just before Christmas in the snowy mountains of Cimarron State Park. Winter’s coming . . .
Brief description: The Duke City Police Department is no stranger to gruesome murders but the new serial killer on their block keeps the body parts of his eight young victims as trophies and has a worrying obsession with the number nine. The suspect is incarcerated in the state's high security penitentiary but Police Chief Hackett is faced with a dilemma when another teenage girl vanishes.
Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing – fall/winter of 2015.
Genre: Psychological Thriller, mystery, suspense (hardboiled)
Pages: 323 (approximately)
I’m now working on the second book in the series Night Eyes which is set in Carson National Forest. One of Albuquerque’s highest government officials loses his twelve-year-old son to a kidnapper. Detective Temeke can’t make head or tail of his witnesses or the statements he receives. He must rely on his gut and the rantings of a death-row prisoner.
Inspiration behind your writing
One of the first novels I read was Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, a Victorian poet who wrote about a declining rural society in Wessex. I was fascinated by the way Hardy made his characters so life-like, how we could easily resonate with their suffering and sadness―a theme so central in his work. My father was a writer and a teacher of English Language and Literature at Bradfield College. He instilled the importance of writing at least one English composition in the summer holidays.
C.S. Lewis was a university friend of my father’s and much of my childhood was taken up lying on a blanket in the afternoons on a lazy hazy day, hearing my father read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. All big influences and certainly where the fantasy genre began to take root. I think one of the rewards of writing is being able to make up your own characters, living with them, and watching them endure the most lethal conditions and coming out better than they went in.
How long have you been a BooksGoSocial member?
It was recommended to me by a member and I joined earlier this year.
What do you like most about BooksGoSocial?
I love their passion and especially how Laurence O’Bryan, Author & Founder has written a bestselling novel on Amazon. Not only has he found ways to promote his book, he’s willing to pass on those nuggets of wisdom to other authors. BGS feature a wealth of genres so all books will definitely find a home. There are fun competitions to enter, reading groups to join and, of course, interesting author interviews to take part in. One thing I have learned is the many innovative and free ways to promote books. Getting to know other authors is an added bonus and understanding the many layers of marketing and selling are all well worth the time invested.
Would you recommend BooksGoSocial to other authors?
Absolutely. It’s a great place to showcase your books and for authors to be featured. If you want to find a new audience then this is the definitely the place for your books!
To find out more about CMT Stibbe’s books, visit her website
